Hard SAT CR problem

Test Preparation
1

“In this matter of the Diamond,” he said, “the characters
of innocent people have suffered under suspicion already as
you know. The memories of innocent people may suffer.
25 hereafter, for want of a record of the facts to which those
who come after us can appeal. There can be no doubt that
this strange family story of ours ought to be told. And I
think, Belleredge. the lawyer and I together have hit on
the right way of telling it.”

  1. In line 25, "want" most nearly means (A) poverty (B) desire (C) lack (D) fault (E) requirement

I answered B but the correct answer given was C. I don’t understand why it is C and not B.

Help,
Thanks

2

It helps to know that “lack” is one of the meanings of “want.” It’s a bit old-fashioned today, but the overall style is old-fashioned (It’s actually Wilkie Collins) so it fits.

The other thing to consider is that “desire” only makes sense if there are people in the passage who would desire the record. And there are no such people.

3

@WasatchWriter Thanks, i get it know, but the answer is too subtle for my liking :((

4

is it C? i just know want means lack and it makes sense in context.

5

Plug in your 2 best choices and read the lines before and after it. The wording that makes the most sense in accord with the rest of the passage is usually right.